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Rims and tires – how to keep them in good condition?
Wheels are an integral part of every car. The first level of responsibility for our safety focuses on them - they are the only points connecting the road surface with the vehicle. That is why their role is extremely important and cannot be forgotten.
The basic, almost school-like division of this component includes two elements: the tire and the rim. Let's start with the first one. The rubber element should be adapted to the road conditions - in case of normal use, everything revolves around temperatures, which are directly related to the seasons. We can therefore distinguish winter and summer variants. There are also multi-season tires on the market, but when there is something for everything, it's better to have two sets. The most common rims are steel (cheaper and simpler) or aluminum (more expensive, more attractive, more durable). Very often we choose the "steel plus winter" and "alu plus summer" sets. And there is a logical justification for this.
Common sense and safety
I will not tell you what the advantages and disadvantages of the types of tires and rims are, because everyone knows perfectly well that both have their supporters and strong arguments to use them. However, you may get the impression that we are forgetting about the basics, i.e. taking care of their condition. In short, more advanced knowledge blurs the basic knowledge that we should focus on to minimize the risk. First things first…
How often do you check tire pressure? In older cars that do not have sensors, most drivers react when the low level is visible to the naked eye or... there is a puncture. This is of course not very reasonable considering the role of this element. Correct pressure ensures proper wheel behavior at high speeds and on slippery surfaces. Therefore, it is worth taking a moment and regularly checking how much air there is in our tires and how much there should be.
Let's go back to the issue of temperature for a moment. There are daredevils who use summer or winter tires to make... all-season tires. No, they don't mess with their treads with a knife, they just ignore the replacement. However, they are not aware that the inappropriateness of the type of rubber and its structures to the temperatures causes them to wear out much faster. This, in turn, will reduce the service life and accelerate the potential expense.
Read our guide - how to take care of your tires!
New or used tires?
That's right, an expense. Is it worth saving on tires? The home budget can be quite tight, but it's better to bite the bullet and choose products that will provide the right parameters. Buying stimulants is a risky idea that can only be entrusted to experts. The year of tire production, tread thickness, repair spots, condition of grooves and edges - all of this should be checked by professionals. There is no such problem with new tires, but it is still worth consulting specialists who will know what type and model will best suit our car.
Is it easier with rims? Similarly to the above-mentioned case, stimulants may be simply damaged, but in an invisible way - bends or structural damage will not always be visible during visual inspection. So here we recommend new products even more. However, our obligation does not end with purchases and installation...
Balancing is also a very important activity. Irregularities in this area may lead to wheel wear and even pulling while driving. The vulcanizer should therefore check or adjust the weights to achieve the proper effect. It is also worth mentioning geometry at this point. Errors related to it also result in uneven abrasion.
Practice and aesthetics
Have you noticed that designers of new cars create car silhouettes in such a way that... without large rims, almost every model looks average at best? There is something to it, which is why we can already find 19's even in city cars, and even minivans and commercial vehicles, and there is no indication that this trend will reverse. There is no denying that there is no shortage of aesthetes. And this shouldn't surprise anyone. When buying a car, it is natural that we want it to not only meet functional expectations, but also simply please us in terms of style.
The wheels are therefore an extremely important complement to the design of the entire silhouette. The fact that they are new does not mean that they will be sparkles and glitters forever. Remember that they are in direct contact with the ground and changing weather conditions. In addition, there are particles from the braking system and many, many other substances (tar, mud, etc.).
However, there are a number of products on the market that can meet the challenge of bringing these elements to the proper aesthetic condition. They can remove discolorations, deposits and, to some extent, regenerate aluminum materialand restore shine. It is worth remembering that the preparation can be selected according to its potency. Chemistry has many great properties, but you don't have to fire a cannon straight away - sometimes a gentler liquid is enough, so it's important to assess the level of challenge well and not overdo it.
It's no different with tires. Here we also have great opportunities for care and partial prolongation of good condition. They exist foam i milks, which have several significant advantages. Firstly, they have a protective effect and can protect tires against atmospheric factors. To some extent, they can also slow down the aging process and cracking of microstructures. You can also achieve the so-called "black tire” and shine. Anyone who likes to see new cars in showrooms knows that this little detail gives the "wow effect".
Take care of safety and aesthetics
It is not the clothes that make the man, but the wheel that makes the car and, above all, affects the safety of passengers. Therefore, it is worth choosing good rims and tires, monitoring the pressure and checking the condition on an ongoing basis. Care is equally important, so I advise you to approach the topic comprehensively, especially since it does not involve large costs.
